UMC to Launch $75M Initiative on World Malaria Day

The United Methodist Church will officially launch on Sunday its $75 million initiative to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa as people around the world mark the third annual World Malaria Day.

"United Methodists are taking on the fight against malaria in a big way, and we're excited about the potential impact of this effort," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, in an announcement of Sunday’s launch of the “Imagine No Malaria” initiative.

"Malaria is preventable and treatable. It's a fight we can win if we all work together," he added.

Although the incidence of malaria has been dropping over recent years, the disease still claims approximately 860,000 lives each year, mainly women and children in Africa.

Each day, the disease kills more than 2,000 children under age five, making it a leading cause of death for young children in Africa and other regions. The disease, however, can be prevented and treated with inexpensive, proven interventions such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and access to anti-malarial drugs.

Unfortunately, the less than $2 billion now committed annually is said to represent only a third of the global need.